English+Literature

My papers:

 * ====Paper 3====
 * Paper 4
 * Paper 5
 * Paper 7

If you look through the syllabus, you'll see that there are a whole lot of texts you're supposed to do. I would suggest going through each text at least once, figuring out which ones you like and will be able to analyze and then pick //at least// two, preferably three texts from each section. If you have a choice between poetry, prose and drama (e.g. section 2 of paper 5), figure out which kind of texts you're better at analyzing. Remember that if you choose poetry, you will have 20-30 poems to read through thoroughly and analyze individually and in a group to be adequately prepared. If you're not comfortable with Shakespeare, avoid Shakespearean texts where possible (in paper 4, for example). Make very, very sure that you practice writing essays, first without time limits and then with. Time was a big issue for me, especially while doing the last question. You also need to jot down important quotes for each text, even if you're planning on sticking to passage-based questions. If you feel there are too many texts for you to handle, and that you can manage writing an unseen texts paper, go for paper 7. If not, stick with paper 6--paper 6 usually has the most interesting texts, in my opinion. If your school lets you do coursework (paper 8), that's better yet.

Texts I did in-depth:


 * Songs of Ourselves selection
 * Stories of Ourselves selection
 * Hardy's poems
 * Nervous Conditions
 * Equus (this is a fantastic, fantastic play. It's not easy, but for me, this was the most interesting text. Check out the film versions too, you can find at least one online)
 * A Streetcar Named Desire
 * An Ideal Husband (Wilde is hilarious. This is a deceptively simple text, be careful with it. If you're going to go for a non-passage-based question, you might have trouble remembering important quotes because there are so many of them. If you've read the play, you'll know what I mean)
 * Hamlet
 * Coriolanus
 * Silas Marner
 * Mansfield Park
 * Hard Times

Not all of these are going to be relevant for you, but I hope some of the resources I post will be helpful.

__General Exam Tips/Guides__ __Full Texts__ __Paper Three__ (Prose & Poetry) __Paper Four__ (Drama) __Paper Five__ (Shakespeare and other dead people) __Paper Six__ (Twentieth Century Literature) __Paper Seven__ (unseen passages)